Successful press release by Ford it looks like. You will find similar fiction on virtually any brand of car from the era. Kind of like today - if its on the internet it must be true, right? Back then a newspaper was the equivalent to the internet.

Fun story, but it doesn't counter the historical reports from Henry's closest associates that he hated the Model K and regretted building the car.

I for one can believe this story. It may have a bit of the dramatic prose that was typical of the press back in the day. But we know Henry was a speed demon in his earlier days. I will bet that he did enjoy putting that Model K through her paces.

A bad or poorly performing car? There were mechanical issues unique to the K as there were with many early autos. They were still experimenting with what they could do and build. But it was a big powerful car well built car especially for the price. I think you have proven Henry didn't hate it but felt that the Ford Motor Co. to be what he knew it could be had to go in a different direction. That path was lead by the success of the N, R & S. Leading finally to the T.

Since the article was in October, well past T-storm season in Michigan (August?), who knows how they got it. AP or UP should have been faster than that.

wiki again:

1876: Mark Kellogg, a stringer, is the first AP news correspondent to be killed while reporting the news, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. His final dispatch: "I go with (Commander George Armstrong) Custer and will be at the death."

1893: Melville E. Stone becomes the general manager of the reorganized AP, a post he holds until 1921. Under his leadership, the AP grows to be one of the world's most prominent news agencies.

1899: AP uses Guglielmo Marconi's wireless telegraph to cover the America's Cup yacht race off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the first news test of the new technology.

1914: AP introduces the teleprinter, which transmitted directly to printers over telegraph wires. Eventually a worldwide network of 60-word-per-minute teleprinter machines is built. ----------

Ford loved the press, even in the early days. This is nothing more than a glorified press release.

I have similar news paper clippings in my collection that talk about Ford and his various Florida trips. Most are as embellished as this is, but as long as it made it in the papers it was OK by Ford. He was a master at having the press give him tons of free advertising.

Did you know Ford had several companies working for him collecting all the Ford related clippings in the newspapers nationwide at his own insistence? He would personally sit and review these on a regular basis. These clipping books were always on the sun porch of Fair Lane where he spent most of his time. Far as I know these clipping books are in the Benson Ford Archives.

If you haven't already, find a copy of William Richards' "The Last Billionaire". Richards was a member of the press as well as a personal friend of Ford. A couple chapters in this book will give you some insight as to how Ford would work the media.

Another excellent source would be David Lewis' "Public Image of Henry Ford".